The Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ambassador Rogelio Pfirter, paid an official visit to the People’s Republic of China from 13 to 16 May 2008 and met H. E. Mr Wang Yi, the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.
Director-General Pfirter provided Minister Wang with an overview of the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) globally and within the region. Minister Wang and Director-General Pfirter reviewed the progress being achieved to meet the goals set by the OPCW. Director-General Pfirter expressed appreciation for China’s commitments to the goals of the CWC.
Minister Wang reiterated his country’s strong commitment to the OPCW and praised the important contribution made by the CWC towards world peace and security. Minister Wang also expressed the view that he hoped that the chemical weapons abandoned by Japan in China will be destroyed at the earliest. Director-General Pfirter highlighted to Acting Foreign Minister Wang the commitment of the Technical Secretariat in implementing the provisions of the Convention relating to abandoned chemical weapons and in working closely with the concerned parties.
Ambassador Pfirter also met H.E. Mr He Yafei, Assistant Foreign Minister and discussed issues of common interest relating to the CWC. The Director-General commended the Government of China for its steadfast support to the work of the OPCW and expressed the hope that the close cooperation would continue in order to achieve the common goals enshrined in the CWC.
In his meeting with Ambassador Cheng Jingye, Director-General of Arms Control and Disarmament Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director-General Pfirter noted the vital role of the CWC in promoting the objectives of international peace and security, including the contribution it could make in the fight against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Ambassador Cheng reiterated China’s strong commitment to, and consistent support of, the object and purpose of the Convention.
At the OPCW Designated Laboratory (The Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry of RICD-China), Director-General Pfirter was welcomed and given a tour by Major General Chen Xinnian, General Logistic Department of the People’s Liberation Army.
During the course of his official engagements, Director-General Pfirter met Major General Liu Yonggui, the Head of the Chemical Defense Institute. He addressed the faculty and participants, from 17 countries, who were at the Institute attending the OPCW Assistance and
Protection Course hosted by the Government of China. In addition, Director-General Pfirter also visited the Japanese Abandoned Chemical Weapons Trust Warehouse in Shijiazhuang City, Hebei.
In Hong Kong SAR, Director-General Pfirter met with H.E. Mr Lu Xinhua, Commissioner of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of China and Ms Yvonne Choi Ying-pik, Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Bureau of SAR.
While in China, Director-General Pfirter on behalf of the OPCW expressed deep condolences over the loss of life and destruction from the recent earthquake in southwestern China and extended his deep sympathies for the victims and their families.